Cork springs to the rescue for nervy Burnley
SEAN DYCHE twitched, winced and bawled in frustration. This was Dyche as we had never seen him before. This is what the Europa League means to him and Burnley.
All the pros and cons, thoughts of Premier League survival and so on, were forgotten.
A first home game in Europe for 51 years saw to that. Tension and fear of failure took over as Burnley eventually saw off Aberdeen after extra time last night.
East Lancashire stirred when Burnley were up, when Chris Wood opened the scoring early, but howled in exasperation when defeat looked likely after Lewis Ferguson’s equaliser. That is what expectation does to a club and this one certainly has to contend with that now.
Extra-time arrived and Burnley found another gear, Jack Cork heading home from Charlie Taylor’s cross and then Ashley Barnes firing in from the penalty spot after a handball.
Make no mistake, Dyche’s side were poor last night — and he knew it, pacing up and down the touchline, crying in angst. He could feel this opportunity potentially slipping away.
Dyche wants to create memories for one of England’s most impoverished areas, that much was clear by his body language. Before this he felt it was his time and his CV would look all the more impressive with European success. For that to happen, though, more quality through the doors is urgently required.
It was certainly a hectic day at Turf Moor, with plenty of activity before the transfer window closes next Thursday. Three Burnley bids went in for Ben Gibson, Jay Rodriguez and Sam Clucas. The scattergun was firing.
The £8million tabled for Clucas was accepted by Swansea City but there is understood to be quite a way to go on that yet. Wages are always an issue for the Clarets and that might be their downfall while trying to secure the 27-year-old as a back-up for Robbie Brady. Middlesbrough rejected the opening £12m on offer for Gibson, as did West Brom with the £16m lodged for Rodriguez.
There is no doubt that Burnley are playing games and, even if three or four new faces do arrive, it is hard to get away from the fact that this could all have been settled weeks ago. Standing still equates to going backwards in the Premier League. Bartering over loose television money could yet be to their detriment.
As such, this is turning into a big week in more ways than one for Dyche. He made pointed remarks aimed at the board during his sixyear spell in charge on the eve of this second leg, claiming that chairman Mike Garlick must start stretching their business model in the hope of maintaining progress.
The words were not minced. The message was clear. Dyche wants money and believes he again needs to break the club’s transfer record, standing at £15m spent on striker Chris Wood last year.
We will see whether that transpires, but Wood broke the deadlock after just six minutes here.
Burnley started ferociously, snapping into challenges, and pressing in midfield allowed Ashley Westwood to lift his head up. Wood snuggled in between central defenders, collecting the carefully lofted pass, before forcing Joe Lewis to ground and powering in an opener to settle any nerves.
Aberdeen hit back just before the half-hour. Burnley had lapsed long before Wood ought to have dealt with a routine Gary Mackay-Steven cross, heading only to Lewis Ferguson. But the finish was something else. Eight yards out and with back to goal, Ferguson’s overhead kick was perfect, flying past Anders Lindegaard.
Ferguson — nephew of former Scotland captain Barry — is 18 and this was his second game for Aberdeen. Scottish football is rightly excited about the midfielder. Dyche was livid with Wood and Andrew Considine went close shortly before half-time. Lindegaard then tipped wide from Graeme Shinnie.
Dyche hooked Wood at the break, Barnes on in his place. Barnes then knocked the ball down for Johann Berg Gudmundsson, with Lewis diverting the shot wide.
The striker’s introduction gave the home side fresh impetus. Aberdeen did, however, still threaten on the break. Niall McGinn broke down the left with 20 minutes to go, squaring for Shinnie, but the captain’s effort sailed over.
Lewis also superbly saved from Barnes and Sam Vokes, the latter’s header tipped on to the bar. This was anybody’s game as the match entered extra time.
But Burnley’s quality told. Cork’s bullet header put them ahead before Barnes stroked home from the spot after Scott McKenna handled. BURNLEY (4-4-2): Lindegaard 7; Lowton 6.5, Tarkowski 6, Mee 6, Ward 6.5 (Taylor 90); Gudmundsson 7, Cork 7.5, Westwood 7 (Hendrick 105), Lennon 6 (McNeil 87); Wood 6.5 (Barnes 46, 7.5, Vokes 6.5. Subs not used: Legzdins, Bardsley, Long. Scorers: Wood 6, Cork 101, Barnes 114 pen. Booked: Lowton, Gudmundsson. Manager: Sean Dyche 6. ABERDEEN (4-3-1): LEWIS 8; Logan 6.5, McKenna 6.5, Devlin 6, Considine 7; Hoban 6.5 (Ball 88), Shinnie 7; Mackay-Steven 6.5, Ferguson 7.5 (Forrester 105), McGinn 6.5 (Wright 81); Cosgrove 6.5 (May 100). Subs not used: Cerny, Gleeson, Campbell. Scorer: Ferguson 27. Booked: Considine, Shinnie. Manager: Derek McInnes 7. Referee: Massimiliano Irrati (Italy) 5.